REVIEW: Georgie Fame, The Regent, Christchurch

REVIEW: Georgie Fame, The Regent, Christchurch

“Fame is a tough surname to choose for a career in show business and popular music ...” As read the sleeve notes from my well-played 1966 album Hall Of Fame by Georgie Fame.

Born Clive Powell in 1933 Lancashire, and still touring the jazz world over 70 years later, Fame’s popular mix of pop and rhythm & blues still fills clubs and theatres.

In a sold-out-weeks-ago Regent, Fame delivered his smooth jazzy vocals, supported by his trusty old (“bought in ’66!”) distinctive Hammond organ.

After entertaining the audience with nostalgic patter and amusing worldwide anecdotes, Fame launched into Peggy Lee’s slinky You Came A Long Way From St Louis, Goffin & King’s poppy Point Of No Return, and his own ground-breaking number one hit Yeh Yeh.

Supported musically by James and Tristan on drums and guitar, Fame acknowledged Ray Charles’ scat-singing on Get On The Right Track Baby, admired Booker T’s organ sound on the classic Green Onions, and delighted the crowd with his stylish and hooky number one hit Get Away.

The fantastic feel-good finale featured Hoagie Carmichael’s wonderful Georgia On My Mind, the extraordinary Jim Reeves’ country & western waltz He’ll Have To Go, and Georgie Fame’s “personal pension plan” (another huge number one hit) The Ballad Of Bonnie & Clyde.

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